For me, drawing does not begin and end with the connection of materials: pen to paper, charcoal to wall, or knife to clay. It starts with a thought that grows, leading to the collection of tools, the gathering of materials, the curating of objects. Through a process of realigning the broken, the accidental and discarded, new narratives are written.

My studio practice is often based on the actions of a collector ... items are found, and squirrelled away, to be brought out of hiding at various points in time, and temporarily married to other objects as a way of seeking out new narratives. The window sills, shelves and huge table, provide a great framework to try new pairings, and seek out new stories.

But sometimes, there is nothing that needs to be done, aside from an intervention to rescue and present what is already there. My latest collection is of around 30 unwanted hardback books, all part of The Thriller Book Club. Faded, scribbled, torn and tatty, they are more beautiful than I can say ... thank you Brenda x

Feeling under the weather with a cold doesn't generally offer many opportunities for creative practice. However, a recent dose of the dreaded lurgy gave me a much welcome opportunity to lay on the sofa, and indulge in my long-held desire to research my family tree. I knew some names and dates, but not much beyond my own parents and grandparents. We were from the East End of London (or so I thought), and aside from my parents and grandparents, I knew nothing of the occupations of relatives further back in my family tree.But joy of joys ... what a great wealth of knowledge the census returns have offered. I am a fan of the BBC programme, Who Do You Think You Are?, and have watched as celebrities have variously found they are descended from aristocracy, royalty, or in one case I seem to recall, God! My background is far more humble, but to me couldn't be more relevant or exciting. Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce my first whoop of delight in this journey of self discovery. My paternal great grandmother, Esther Wilson, a paper bag maker. I couldn't be happier!